County Executive Paul Farrow signed the 2026 Waukesha County budget last week on Tuesday, November 18. 2026. It will see the County operate under a budget of $391.5 million. It includes $27.2 million in borrowing and a reduction of 6.83 levy funded positions.
2026’s operating budget is up 0.2%, with the capital budget rising by $2.2 million for a grand total of $46 million. The rise will be used to help fund new courthouse renovations, road work projects, and further park construction. This is an increase from last year’s budget of $47.3 million.
The property tax levy is up 1.79 percent to $117.6 million in total, as the tax rate drops from $1.35 to $1.27 per $1,000 due to tax base growth rate. This marks an eleven year trend of tax rate cuts, making them some of the lowest in nearly 30 years.
Nearly 90% of the new levy funds support justice, law fare, and public service. The sheriff’s department, district attorney, and medical examiner will all be recipients of this proportion. Health and human services closed two of its low participation senior dining sites, while the transportation department has decided to discontinue three of its low ridership commuter bus routes.
This is the sixth consecutive year of Waukesha County’s budget passing with a unanimous vote. It is also County Executive Paul Farrow’s eleventh consecutive year overseeing the budget and signing it.
“Once again, collaboration and careful budgeting made this possible,” stated Farrow. “Waukesha County remains one of the best managed counties in the state.”
The 2026 budget marks a decrease in total budget, as the 2025 budget was over $400 million and the 2024 budget was an additional $2.9 million on top of that. Most of the drop is reflected in operating budget, not in capital projects.
The 2026 budget continues its trend of reducing overall operating costs but instead allocates more of its spending towards infrastructure while keeping property tax rates historically low.
Some of the projects slated for 2026 include renovating the 1959 county courthouse, working on an airport maintenance and snow removal building, law enforcement center window replacement, an administrative building remodel, and a highway fleet roof replacement. These projects have been outlined in Farrow’s five year plan. His term as County Executive is not set to expire until 2027.
